Fierce Authenticity Shirani M. Pathak

It's been 8.5 months since we last spoke here on the podcast and boy oh boy, are we due for an update. What a wild wild world we're living in.
 
Here's another real, raw, unedited, unfiltered interlude from my heart to yours. 
 
We take the first bit to catch up on what's been happening around here, including the challenges that come with being a changemaker doing counter-cultural work. Then we take a deep dive into the state of the world the last 40 days since the events of October 7 between Israel and Palestine. 
 
We zoom out, take a big picture perspective, and then we bring in it. 
 
I am no expert on matters in the Middle East, or on politics, or on religion, but what I am is an expert in human behavior, trauma, and relationships, so that's the perspective that I bring here. 
 
There's a ton of shame out there in the world and in this part 1 episode, we are unshaming that for you and inviting you into the power of using your voice, even if it's only a small whisper. 
 
In part 2 we will dive in a little deeper. 
 
When listening to this episode, take your time and consume it slowly. It's a big, deep episode, and I guide you through it the way I would hold space in a private session - with lots of room for breaks and nervous system regulation. 
 
[00:00:05]: Hello, welcome back, and the update
[00:16:30]: On Israel and Palestine
 
Links mentioned:
 
Receive my 3-part email series on the shadows of oppressor and oppressed: 
https://shirani.myflodesk.com/oppressionshadows
 
Receive my regular emails:
https://www.shiranimpathak.com/connect
 
Links: 
To connect with us on the complimentary private newsletter community, be sure to visit www.shiranimpathak.com/connect 
Find Me on Social Media: 
Our hashtags are #fierceauthenticity and #showupbeseengetlove 
If you're loving the episode, take a screenshot, share it on social, and tag me in your post! 
Instagram: @shiranimpathak Facebook: @ShiraniMPathak 
Donate to the work: 
Shirani on PayPal 
*Some of the links used may be affiliate links. It will cost you nothing extra to use my links, but I may earn a commission if you use one of my links. This is one way to financially support the podcast.  
 

Real. Raw. Unedited. 
Tune in as I share what's been on my heart over the past few weeks since you've last spoken with me.
I talk about:
Internalized racism and oppression
Generational legacies
What you're here to do
What I'm here to do
How we can do it together
And so much more.
 
Links: 
Take the next step and sign up to get my emails: www.shiranimpathak.com/connect 
Ready to go all the way? Send me a message:
https://www.shiranimpathak.com/contact
Find Me on Social Media: 
Our hashtags are #fierceauthenticity and #showupbeseengetlove 
If you're loving the episode, take a screenshot, share it on social, and tag me in your post! 
Instagram: @shiranimpathak Facebook: @ShiraniMPathak 

As I look back on the pandemic there is one thing that keeps coming to mind, and that is how it made a lot of us slow down and reevaluate our lives; how it made us aware that we were living on autopilot and that we’re not being our true authentic selves.  
My friend and today’s guest, Riessa Monique, is no different. The pandemic made Riessa take a dramatic (yet long overdue) career pivot - from an IT manager to a life coach. Today, she is on a mission to help her clients to see themselves as they truly are - capable of whatever goal they want to accomplish. Now, living her true and authentic life, she is here to share her insights about legacy and why she believes you’re right on track - no matter where you are.  
 
In today’s episode, we cover: 
Riessa’s amazing career transformation 
Living a life that is aligned with who we are 
Why legacy is more than having children
How to trust our inner knowing
Understanding the impact we can make  
 
Quotes 
[00:06:53] The pandemic isn't the first time people were wearing masks. We are trained to wear masks, socialized masks and not be our authentic self.
[00:11:46] The legacy is left in the thought process. That is where the true DNA is. And that can go beyond, because I can only birth so many children. But as far as the thought process being left behind and the DNA and how that can have been a trickle down effect, that is more than just having children. 
[00:18:47] I really truly believe everyone was born with gifts and talents. But we have a tendency to play small and shy away from that as if it was scary and not understanding. Even with those gifts and talents, we can have even a greater impact. But we're already having an impact because someone else is watching our life. And we are being an example of something.  
[00:35:02] If I compare the hammer to a microwave, it wouldn't make sense. But who am I to compare myself to anyone else because I, just like you - the listener, am made per my design 
[00:37:21] As far as embracing your own design, even your own quirkiness, your own desires, just know that you are right on track. And for anyone else to tell you you're not on track - have them pull out your design. They don't have it. 
 
Links: 
To connect with us on the complimentary private newsletter community, be sure to visit www.shiranimpathak.com/connect 
Find Me on Social Media: 
Our hashtags are #fierceauthenticity and #showupbeseengetlove 
If you're loving the episode, take a screenshot, share it on social, and tag me in your post! 
Instagram: @shiranimpathak Facebook: @ShiraniMPathak 
For a transcript of this episode visit www.shiranimpathak.com/podcast 
Donate to the work: 
Shirani on PayPal 
*Some of the links used may be affiliate links. It will cost you nothing extra to use my links, but I may earn a commission if you use one of my links. This is one way to financially support the podcast.  

Today I want to share with you my thoughts on decolonizing, deconditioning and unbecoming. This topic of unbecoming and decolonizing ties nicely into my life right now, as I am leaving my therapy practice behind and stepping into the next chapter of my life. I am decolonizing colonial thoughts about having to stick to one career and putting education above all else 
To me, deconditioning and decolonizing are very similar and in that process is also a practice of unbecoming. As we're doing our decolonizing work and as we're deconditioning, we're also unraveling everything that society has told us that we should be or that we need to be. We’re unbecoming everything that is not authentically us so that we can step into who we came here to be and who we are when we are not following societal expectations. That's what the process of unbecoming is.  
 
In today’s episode, we cover: 
The Trojan horse approach to dismantling supremacy culture 
Defining decolonizing, deconditioning and unbecoming 
Healing the collective by doing inner work first 
How to give yourself grace in this process 
Perfection is not required  
 
Quotes  
[00:24:22] each and every single one of us has a responsibility to do this inner work of decolonizing, deconditioning, dismantling, demolishing all of this internalized colonialism, the internalized supremacy, the internalized oppression. Each and every single one of us has a responsibility no matter what the color of your skin, because we live in these systems, and each of us has been impacted by it. 
[00:26:23] We're building the new world as we're still living in the old one. So we're constructing from the ruins of what we're deconstructing.  
[00:29:17] You're a human and I'm a human. And we're just trying to do this wild thing called life together, we're all working towards the same, common-shared goal.  
[00:29:38]  We're not perfect, our perfection is not required. It's our progress that we must be making and how we're showing up. 
 
Links: 
To connect with us on the complimentary private newsletter community, be sure to visit www.shiranimpathak.com/connect 
Find Me on Social Media: 
Our hashtags are #fierceauthenticity and #showupbeseengetlove 
If you're loving the episode, take a screenshot, share it on social, and tag me in your post! 
Instagram: @shiranimpathak Facebook: @ShiraniMPathak 
For a transcript of this episode visit www.shiranimpathak.com/podcast 
Donate to the work: 
Shirani on PayPal 
*Some of the links used may be affiliate links. It will cost you nothing extra to use my links, but I may earn a commission if you use one of my links. This is one way to financially support the podcast.  

If you'd like a different alternative to New Year's resolutions, then this episode is for you. 
Today’s episode is all about those New Year's resolutions aka additional lies that supremacy culture teaches you. 
New Year - New You…ugh, that just irks me.  
Most of us don’t get beyond the first 60 to 90 days of these “New Year's resolutions.” And here's why - because those are some of the additional lies that supremacy culture teaches you to keep you further oppressed. So, join me in today’s episode and start the new year as authentically yourself. 
  
In today’s episode, we cover: 
Here’s why New Year - New You doesn’t work  
You need to want It for yourself
How to take back your power
Being authentically yourself  
 
Quotes  
[00:06:47] It wasn't until, of course, years after I quit doing the whole New Year's resolutions thing that I realized, and it clicked and it dawned upon me: “Oh, my gosh, this is because it's another way for me to beat up on myself, and feel bad about myself, and be little and berate myself, to judge myself and criticize myself, to compare myself with others.” That's all it was. 
[00:08:18] You have to actually, intrinsically, inside of yourself, believe that whatever it is that you want to experience, you want to experience it for you. Not because someone outside of you told you how you had to look, behave, what your house should look like. 
 
Links: 
To connect with us on the complimentary private newsletter community, be sure to visit www.shiranimpathak.com/connect 
Find Me on Social Media: 
Our hashtags are #fierceauthenticity and #showupbeseengetlove 
If you're loving the episode, take a screenshot, share it on social, and tag me in your post! 
Instagram: @shiranimpathak Facebook: @ShiraniMPathak 
For a transcript of this episode visit www.shiranimpathak.com/podcast 
Donate to the work: 
Shirani on PayPal 
*Some of the links used may be affiliate links. It will cost you nothing extra to use my links, but I may earn a commission if you use one of my links. This is one way to financially support the podcast.  

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But, is it really? 
The holiday season, allegedly the most wonderful time of the year, may not be so wonderful for many of us. Because we've been conditioned under systems of supremacy culture and capitalism, for many of us this is the time to rush, to hustle and to do for others at our own expense. 
Today’s episode is the beginning of a three-part miniseries that will help you get through the holidays in a way that goes counter to supremacy and allows you to experience this time as a time of true love, connection, intimacy and authenticity in all of your relationships! 
 
In today’s episode, we cover: 
The importance of slowing down 
Giving yourself and others the gift of presence 
Deep presence, deep connection and true intimacy 
 
Quotes 
[00:05:52] Because this is the time of year where we are sold every single lie and piece of BS about how we need these outside material possessions, that are really only fleeting and temporary, by the way...but how we need these external things in order for us to be happy, in order for our loved ones to feel loved, in order for everyone to feel appreciated and that they matter.  
[00:10:54] I want you to think about what might happen if you were to allow yourself to follow what nature's rhythm was. What if you were to give yourself permission to slow down, to be more internally focused, to turn towards Self to see what you need or what your heart wants to share with your loved ones as opposed to what corporate, and big business, and consumerism and capitalism tell you that you need. 
[00:16:20] When you slow down, when you connect with yourself, when you come into alignment with you, with the Divine Source of something greater than you, when you look to nature for your cues and when you move from there, that's where you'll make your greatest impact on your loved ones. And I guarantee you it is not going to be because you got them the latest iPhone, or the latest gadget, or the latest whatever and especially not if you did it from the energy of hustle and chaos and franticness and scarcity and lack.